Community Corner

🌱 What will Santa Maria’s new $9.5 million mobility center include?

And on the Santa Maria Patch calendar - Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in San Luis Obispo, CA

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Tuesday December 16th Patch AM
Tuesday December 16th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Greetings Santa Maria! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What will Santa Maria’s new $9.5 million mobility center include?
  • What sentence could this convicted Santa Maria gang member now face?
  • How new state laws aim to keep Santa Maria students feeling safe

Also on today's calendar: Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in San Luis Obispo, CA and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in Santa Mariafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Santa Maria? Post it to Santa Maria photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Santa Mariafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 76 and low of 49 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Partly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 73, low: 52.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 73 and low of 44 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• California Transportation Commission approves $1.1B for zero-emission transit, bridge repairs and highway upgrades (californiaconstructionnews.com) — Santa Maria is set to receive $9.5 million to build a new mobility center for regional clean‑energy buses, part of a $1.1 billion statewide transportation package. The funding also supports zero‑emission buses, EV chargers, bridge repairs, and highway and street upgrades across California, all aimed at safer, more climate‑resilient travel.
   

• Santa Maria Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in 2021 Gang-Related Shooting (independent.com) — A Santa Maria man has been convicted of first-degree murder for a 2021 gang-related shooting on North Lincoln Street in Santa Maria. Jurors also found gang and firearm allegations true, and local detectives were credited for their work. Sentencing in the Santa Maria division of Superior Court is set for January 13, 2026.
   

• New State Laws Bolster Santa Maria's Student Protection Policies (keyt.com) — New state laws are reinforcing protections for students in and around Santa Maria schools, especially amid heightened federal immigration enforcement activity. Local school and county leaders are reaffirming that campuses remain safe spaces regardless of immigration status, while new rules tighten warrant requirements and mandate community notifications if immigration officers appear on school grounds.
   

📸 Around Santa Maria

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Maria

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events
    Wednesday December 17
  • Pet Wellness Clinic, Santa Maria
    Fraternal Order of Eagles , 668 S College Dr , Santa Maria
    10:00 am
  • Atascadero @ Ernest Righetti
    Ernest Righetti High School , 941 E Foster Rd , Santa Maria
    3:30 pm
  • Wine Wednesday BINGO!-Wine Stone Inn
    Wine Stone Inn , 255 W. Clark Ave. , Old Orcutt
    5:00 pm
    • Thursday December 18
  • Bar Takeover at Steller's Cellar
    Steller's Cellar , 400 E. Clark Ave. , Orcutt
    4:00 pm
  • Karaoke Night
    Lark + Sparrow , 155 E. Clark Ave., Ste. 110 , Orcutt
    6:30 pm
    • Friday December 19
  • Live Music & Dinner
    Steller's Cellar , 400 E Clark Ave , Orcutt
    5:30 pm
  • Holiday Vibes- Teen Takeover: Pj's Holiday Hangout
    Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center , 600 S McClelland St , Santa Maria
    6:00 pm
  • Live Music Fridays
    Lark + Sparrow , 155 E. Clark Ave., Ste. 110 , Orcutt
    7:00 pm

📣 Santa Maria Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Santa Maria PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Boot Barn posted a job opening for Inventory Control Associate (Full Time) in Santa Maria. Apply here.
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Forklift Driver in Santa Maria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Maria here.

🗞 Nearby News

Orcutt

  • Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade Returns with Nearly 50 Entries (noozhawk.com)
  • Mark your calendars: Weekly sports schedule for Dec. 15-21 (lompocrecord.com)

Nipomo

  • Our Lady of Guadalupe procession to Nipomo returns for fifth year (ksby.com)
  • USAC's 2026 Avanti Western States Midget Slate Revealed (speedwaydigest.com)

Lompoc

Ok Santa Maria! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Santa Maria